Opinion
05PDJ080 (consolidated with 05PDJ083 and 06PDJ089).
November 9, 2006.
Attorney Regulation.
The Presiding Disciplinary Judge approved a Conditional Admission of Misconduct submitted by the parties and suspended Respondent Heather J. Turner (Attorney Registration No. 17088) from the practice of law for a period of thirty months, with conditions of reinstatement, effective November 9, 2006. Respondent engaged in several instances of misconduct involving over twenty clients, most involving her neglect of legal matters and failure to return client files and fees. She also engaged in criminal conduct and pled guilty to fraud by check, a Class 2 misdemeanor. Respondent's misconduct constituted grounds for the imposition of discipline pursuant to C.R.C.P. 251.5 and violated Colo. RPC 1.3, Colo. RPC 1.4(a), Colo. RPC 1.5(a) and (b), Colo. RPC 1.15(a), Colo. 1.16(d), Colo. RPC 3.4(d), Colo. RPC 8.4(b), and Colo. RPC 8.4(c). The PDJ approved the proposed stipulation in part due to the significant mitigating factors of Respondent's mental health during the misconduct and her subsequent full and free disclosure in the disciplinary proceedings.